Ghtback falls short
E left Wexford men with too much to do
tioning the priorities s. ager John Nolan was eline, apparently for his designated area, ange with linesman ery odd selection by for this game given and bred in Wexford. utes later, the same ecisively after some the row as outlined a big fuss over somebeforehand. y resumed, Hobbs more frees and John ack, leaving Conahy ng position (4-11 to on Callinan made a ac Moore-Kavanagh glimmer of hope for ed in the 41st minute n drifted in from the ee into the far corner d ball was missed by help in the momennothing to lose, their ove Darren Morris to ne final push. was introduced to who was starved of st of the second-half square anyway, and ave it a rattle. another point beforehe impressive Eddie his third in the 46th gue blocked Brendan 9). unished a poor clearrrett response, and a run down the centre led to a late tackle sful free from Hobbs. d a classy response, ey on target from a tight angle on the right touchline, but this proved to be their final score, in the 52nd minute (4-13 to 1-11).
A ninth free for Hobbs was followed by that late drama, starting in the 58th minute when full-forward Shane Quinn swung his hurl at a placed ball from the same player and it ended up in the net.
Sixty seconds later, Hobbs played a short crossfield free from the left to Eoin Corcoran, and his low drive appeared to go directly to the net, even though Quinn was swinging again as it passed him along the ground.
It left only four points between the sides entering added time, and the fact that Ballygarrett were back in the hunt by that stage was a tribute to their spirit.
What a shame they were punished in such a ruthless fashion earlier, in the worst ten-minute spell the team has probably produced in their entire time together.
When the dust settles, this will be rightly remembered as a special year for the club, but the ‘what ifs’ will surely linger for a while first, especially if Conahy make it to Croke Park next month.
Ballygarrett: Aaron Hall; Eddie Redmond, Darren Morris, Aidan Murphy; Colm Kennelly, Stephen Redmond (capt.), Brendan Corcoran; Cormac Moore-Kavanagh (0-1), Tom Sinnott; Killian Doyle, Patrick Naughter (0-1), Eoin Corcoran (2-1); Jack Hobbs (0-9 frees), Shane Quinn (1-0), John Doyle. Subs. - Jimmy Murphy for K. Doyle (41), Seamus Doyle for Kennelly (45), also Mark Doyle, Harry Byrne, Oisín Dunbar, Adam Fleming, Tom Hobbs, Seán O’Brien, Johnny Sinnott.
Conahy Shamrocks: Pádraic Delaney; Simon Callinan, Davy Healy, Liam Cass; Darren Cuddihy, Brian Healy, Eoin Carroll; Donal Brennan, Eddie Delaney (0-3); Kieran Mooney (0-3, 1 free), John Mullan (1-2), Eoin Cahill; James Bergin (capt., 2-3, 0-2 frees), Tom Phelan (1-1), Bill Murphy (0-1). Subs. - Pádraigh Gunner for B. Healy, temp. (20-21), Tom Rice for Murphy (55).
Referee: Richie Fitzsimons (Offaly).